Tanay, Rizal is an up-and-coming spot for weekend travelers because of the scenic winding road of the Marilaque Highway and the area’s cold weather.
If you’re looking for a quick getaway from the crowded cafes and restos in the metro, Tanay Highlands welcomes you with a spacious view deck, serving good food and coffee.
A sea of clouds viewed from Tanay Highlands.
Image credit: Kyxmaylene Deroxas
After driving up the winding and scenic road of Marilaque Highway, you’ll reach Tanay Highlands and see their expansive view deck lined with wooden tables and benches. Here, you get an unobstructed 360-degree view of the mountainside and nearby towns.
A view of the Pililla windmills in the distance
Image credit: Adrian Cruz
As we’ve been to Tanay, we can say that the weather is similar to the colder areas of Tagaytay, especially at night or early in the morning. If you wish to see the rolling sea of clouds, it’s best to check the weather forecast first and arrive early, since the view deck and cafe are open as early as 6am anyway.
Al-fresco dining in Tanay Highlands.
Image credit: Kape Mond Oh
Fur parents with their dog.
Image credit: Ly Marie
Being an al fresco cafe, they allow and even encourage bringing pets, so fur parents would have a go-to spot in Tanay to relax with their cats or dogs. The grounds in the upper part of the property have well-maintained grass where you can walk, pose, and play around with your pets.
Native longganisa, egg, & chorizo rice.
Image credit: JP Bertiz Full I
The cafe and resto serve all-day breakfast. You can choose from all-time Filipino favorites such as Beef Tapa or Native Longganisa (sausage) (P275, ~USD4.96)—both served with chorizo rice, sunny side up egg, tomatoes, and cucumber.
And of course, being a cafe, they pride themselves in using high-quality single-sourced coffee. You can have a classic Americano (P130, ~USD2.35) or Cappuccino (P150, ~USD2.71) among the espresso-based choices. If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, try out their signature drinks, including a chocnut (a Filipino milk & peanut bar) drink (P180, ~USD3.25) and an ube halaya (sweet purple yam) latte (P180, ~USD3.25).
Car camping in Tanay.
Image credit: Ana Marie De Leon
Meanwhile, those who want to spend more time in Tanay can also camp in a separate area within the property. You can experience being closer to nature within a maintained campground and safe compound.
Maximize your stay with overnight camping (P1000, ~USD18.05) from 8am to 5pm the next day. At night, you can lounge under the stars and sleep with only the sound of nature in earshot. In the morning, you surely won’t miss the thick fog and sea of clouds rolling in.
Most folk from Metro Manila usually think of Tagaytay as the closest scenic destination with colder weather. Now there are more developments along the Marilaque Highway that offer the same vibe—Tanay Highlands being one of them.
Address: KM 57 Marilaque Rd., Sitio Mayagay 1, Samapaloc, Tanay, Rizal, Philippines
Operating hours: 6am-7pm, Daily
More cafes around the Philippines:
Cover image adapted from: @tanayhighlands, & Winston Chua
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